STRIKES: Majority of primary schools to close

Wednesday 01 May 2019

The majority of primary schools will be closed today, while secondary schools will be partially closed as hundreds of teachers go on their first of eight days of strike over pay. Read the full list here.

Members of the National Education Union (NEU) will be walking out in a protest against stagnating wages, which have not risen in line with rises in the cost of living in Jersey for a number of years, while workloads have increased.

Alongside the other major teachers' union NASUWT, the NEU has been negotiating with the States Employment Board (SEB) - the body responsible for setting public sector workers' pay and terms and conditions - for a number of months, but have failed to reach an agreement.

The union said its move towards industrial action was a last resort after a series of public pleas and protests, including a large-scale rally in the Royal Square.

President of NEU Jersey, Brendon Caloran, commented: "Despite talks going on for two days and into the evening on the day before the strike, it was not possible to reach an agreement with the representatives of the States Employment Board (SEB)"

"The employers' proposals over education reform and the need to make cost savings are as unrealistic as they are unnecessary. These proposals on education reform are being used as pre-condition for any increase in pay. This is neither reasonable nor fair."

Video: A teacher rally held in the Royal Square last month.

Yesterday, headteachers across the island wrote to parents to inform them of full and partial closures due to being inadequately staffed while the strike action gets underway. With the NEU pledging seven more days of strikes, the same pattern of closures is likely to repeat multiple times this month.

A rally will be held in the Royal Square today at 12:45.

See below for the full list of affected schools.

Primary schools...

Secondary schools...